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I’ve never been so grateful for bank problems.
I stop mid-stride and a gush of wind rushes up behind me. I pull my hair away from my mouth, but just as I’m about to ask him for another favor, his phone chimes and his forehead creases as he looks at the screen. “Shit. I didn’t realize what time it was. I need to take this.”
I wait by the edge of the path as he puts some distance between us and holds up his phone, accepting the video call. I expect it has something to do with his meeting earlier, not the young female voice that comes over the line.
“Hi, Daddy.”
Woah. Shit.My stomach falls to my knees.
“Hey, Kenz. How was dance?”
“Great. I’m working on a new solo for competitions. Now, we’re having sherbet.”
The lines around Riker’s eyes take on a different look as his smile deepens. “Looks good.”
“Where are you?”
“The beach.” He turns the face of his phone toward the beach as the waves reflect the purple light of the sky.
I try not to listen, but I can’t convince myself to turn away or move from my position. She goes on to tell him about dance practice, asking him half a dozen questions about Georgia and whether or not he’ll be in Maine for this and that.He turns toward me as they’re wrapping up. That look on his face, his features soft, happy as he’s speaking to hisdaughter.His love for her is written in every feature. especially the crinkle next to his eyes as he smiles during their final good nights and I love yous.
“Sorry.” he says again, putting his phone away. “I didn’t realize the time and I have to admit, I wasn’t thinking.”
“So, you have a daughter?”
He nods. “Yeah, she’s seven. And a sorer topic than my shoulder, if I’m being honest.”
“Why? You’re not still secretly married or something?” Not that we’d done anything.
“Divorced for three years. Harper and Kenz live near Portland, close to Harper’s family. I’m not with her, because I was always too busy tracking down bad guys on the other side of the world and climbed the walls when I came home. Harper left me almost four years ago, went back to Maine and got remarried two years ago. Most of Kenzie’s life I’ve been the phone-a-father.”
“But you answer. That’s far more than some do. You’re invested. Sounds like she still loves you.” I grab his wrist and pull him back, hoping he’ll face me, but he only halfway turns. “There have been times I thought she was better off having missed the mess I was in coming home. Especially last year. Although she’s been calling more often since then, and I think it’s more than just knowing I’m able to pick up the phone. I have a seven-year-old who checks on me.”
“You’re her daddy.”
He glares at me for an instant, then looks away. “You’re not going to ask why I didn’t just move to Maine when I knew my military career was over?”
“Well, I figure you have your own personal reasons for that. Judging from what you’ve said, you know she’s in a good place and you’re worried you still aren’t. Am I close?”
His jaw is clenched when he finally faces me. “Too close.”
“Look, I don’t know much about your situation, but I would’ve given anything to have a phone call like that with my dad. She seems to know you’re still here for her. A shitty dad wouldn’t worry about that, and he wouldn’t look like he’s talking to the center of his universe as soon as he answers the phone. It takes a lot to be a parent in an ideal situation with a healthy marriage, but it takes something special to keep that connection when everything goes to hell and there are hundreds of miles between you.”
“I didn’t expect to get dressed down on the beach this week.”
I try to tuck my hair behind my ears, but with the constant breeze it refuses. “Yeah, well, I have to keep an office full of cops in check. Don’t think I won’t do it to you.”
Riker pulls me against his chest for a brief moment, then I squeeze his arm as he releases me.
“Thank you,” Riker says, rubbing his hand over my fingers. “You’ve certainly made this trip...interesting.”
“Glad to provide entertainment and insight, but really, what the heck do I know?” I’m better at hook ups than relationships, and I’m beginning to wonder if kids will ever be in the cards at this rate.
We walk for a few minutes in silence to the beat of the waves caressing the shore. It’s beautiful here. The crisp night air is still warm but fresh. Rejuvenating. And although I expected a solo trip, a testament to independence. And then the fates or the universe or whatever grand mechanism that enjoys fucking with us humans, decided to throw me at Riker. Almost literally.
And for what?
To see if I’ll give in to the temptation?
